S. Grant

Initial aerobic power does not alter muscle metabolic adaptations to short-term training

To investigate the hypothesis that training-induced increases in muscle mitochondrial potential are not obligatory to metabolic adaptations observed during submaximal exercise, regardless of peak aerobic power (V˙o 2 peak) of the subjects, a short-term training study was utilized. Two groups of untrained male subjects ( n = 7/group), one with a high (HI) and the other with a low (LO)V˙o 2 peak(means ± SE; 51.4 ± 0.90 vs. 41.0 ± 1.3 ml ⋅ kg-1 ⋅ min-1; P< 0.05), cycled for 2 h/day at 66-69% ofV˙o 2 peak for 6 days. Muscle tissue was extracted from vastus lateralis at 0, 3, and 30 min of standardized cycle exercise before training (0 days) and after 3 and 6 days of training and analyzed for metabolic and enzymatic changes. During exercise after 3 days of training in the combined HI + LO group, higher ( P < 0.05) concentrations (mmol/kg dry wt) of phosphocreatine (40.5 ± 3.4 vs. 52.2 ± 4.2) and lower ( P < 0.05) concentrations of Pi (61.5 ± 4.4 vs. 53.3 ± 4.4), inosine monophosphate (0.520 ± 0.19 vs. 0.151 ± 0.05), and lactate (37.9 ± 5.5 vs. 22.8 ± 4.8) were observed. These changes were also accompanied by reduced levels of calculated free ADP, AMP, and Pi. All adaptations were fully expressed by 3 min of exercise and by 3 days of training and were independent of initialV˙o 2 peak levels. Moreover, maximal activity of citrate synthase, a measure of mitochondrial capacity, was only increased with 6 days of training (5.71 ± 0.29 vs. 7.18 ± 0.37 mol ⋅ kg protein-1 ⋅ h-1; P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that metabolic adaptations to prolonged exercise occur within the first 3 days of training and during the non-steady-state period. Moreover, neither time course nor magnitude of metabolic adaptations appears to depend on increases in mitochondrial potential or on initial aerobic power.

Effects of acute expansion of plasma volume on cardiovascular and thermal function during prolonged exercise

Abstract To investigate the hypothesis that an increase in plasma volume (PV) is obligatory in reducing the cardiovascular drift that is associated with prolonged exercise following training, a plasma expander (Macrodex) was used to acutely elevate PV. Eight untrained volunteers [maximal oxygen consumption; V˙O2max 45.2 (2.2) ml · kg−1 · min−1, mean (SE)] cycled for 2 h [at 46 (4)% V˙O2max] in ambient conditions either with no PV expansion (CON) or following PV expansions of either 14% (LOW) or 21% (HIGH). During CON, heart rate (HR) increased (P<0.05) from 147 (2.4) beats · min−1 to 173 (3.6) beats · min−1 from 15 to 120 min of exercise. Both LOW and HIGH conditions depressed (P<0.05) HR, an effect that was manifested following 15 min of exercise. In contrast, stroke volume (SV) was elevated following PV expansion, with values (ml) of 89.6 (6.8), 97.8 (5.9) and 104 (4.6) noted by 15 min of exercise for CON, LOW and HIGH conditions, respectively. Acute PV expansion, regardless of magnitude, also resulted in elevations in cardiac output (Q˙c). These differences between conditions persisted throughout the exercise, as did the elevation in Q˙c that was noted with LOW and HIGH conditions. No difference between Q˙c, HR or SV was found between LOW and HIGH. In addition, neither LOW nor HIGH conditions altered the change in rectal temperature that was observed during exercise. These results demonstrate that, at least for moderate exercise performed in ambient conditions, PV expansion serves only to alter cardiac function (Q˙c, HR, SV) early in exercise, and not to attenuate the drift that occurs as the exercise is prolonged.

Vascular volumes and hematology in male and female runners and cyclists.

Abstract To examine the hypothesis that foot-strike hemolysis alters vascular volumes and selected hematological properties is trained athletes, we have measured total blood volume (TBV), red cell volume (RCV) and plasma volume (PV) in cyclists (n = 21) and runners (n = 17) and compared them to those of untrained controls (n = 20). TBV (ml · kg−1) was calculated as the sum of RCV (ml · kg−1) and PV (ml · kg−1) obtained using 51Cr and 125I-labelled albumin, respectively. Hematological assessment was carried out using a Coulter counter. Peak aerobic power (V˙O2peak) was measured during progressive exercise to fatigue using both cycle and treadmill ergometry. RCV was 15% higher (P < 0.05) in male cyclists [35.4 (1.0), mean (SE); n = 12] and runners [35.3 (0.98); n=9] compared to the controls [30.7 (0.92); n = 12]. Similar differences existed between the female cyclists [28.2 (2.1); n = 9] and runners [28.4 (1.0); n = 8] compared to the untrained controls [24.9 (1.4); n = 8]. For the male athletes, PV was between 19% (cyclists) and 28% (runners) higher (P < 0.05) in the trained athletes compared to the untrained controls. The differences in PV between the female groups were not significant. Although the males had a higher (P < 0.05) TBV, RCV and PV than the females, no differences between cyclists and runners were found for either gender. Mean cell volume was not different between the athletic groups. V˙O2peak (ml · kg−1 · min−1) was higher (P < 0.05) in both male [68.4 (1.5)] and female [54.8 (2.1)] runners when compared to the untrained males [47.1 (1.0) ] and females [40.5 (2.1)]. Although differences existed between the genders in V˙O2peak for both cyclists and runners, no differences were found between the athletic groups within a gender. Since the vascular volumes were not different between cyclists and runners for either the males or females, foot-strike hemolysis would not appear to have an effect on that parameter. The significant correlations (P < 0.05) found between V˙O2peak and RCV (r = 0.64 and 0.64) and TBV (r = 0.82 and 0.63) for the males and females, respectively, suggests a role for the vascular system in realizing a high aerobic power.

Effects of a 21-Day Expedition to 6194 m on Human Skeletal Muscle SR Ca2+-ATPase

We investigated the effects of a 21-day expedition to the summit of Mount Denali, Alaska (6,194 m) on selected Ca2+ sequestration properties of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium pump in vastus lateralis muscle. Muscle samples were obtained by biopsy from 5 male climbers (peak oxygen consumption, VO2peak = 52.3 +/- 2.1 mL.kg(-1).min(-1)) approximately 7 days prior to (PRE) and 4 days following (POST) the expedition. A comparison of PRE versus POST measures of maximal Ca2+-ATPase activities (117 +/- 8.5 vs. 97.6 +/- 5.6 nmol.mg protein(-1).min(-1)) and Ca2+-uptake (204 +/- 15 vs. 161 +/- 11 nmol.mg protein(-1).min(-1)) measured in crude homogenates obtained from pre-exercised muscle, indicated only an effect (p < 0.05) of the expedition on Ca2+-uptake. The reduction in Ca2+-ATPase activity, representing 16.6%, was not significant (p = 0.089). The sarco endoplasmic reticulum calcium (SERCA)-ATPase isoforms, measured using Western blotting techniques, revealed a small reduction (p < 0.05) in SERCA 1 (-4.6 +/- 1.9%), but not in SERCA 2a (+2.0 +/- 1.4%). Prior to the expedition, both Ca2+-ATPase activity and Ca2+-uptake were reduced (p < 0.05) by approximately 34 and 18%, respectively, following 40 min of a two-step continuous cycling task (20 min at 59% VO2peak and 20 min at 74% VO2peak). The exercise-induced reduction in Ca2+-ATPase activity was independent of fiber type. Only in the case of Ca2+-uptake was a lower exercise response (p < 0.05) observed following the expedition, an effect that was due to the lower resting value. It is concluded that acclimatization as experienced during a mountaineering expedition induces changes in the properties of the SR Ca2+-pump, and particularly to Ca2+-sequestering function.

Alterations in sarcoplasmic reticulum function in female vastus lateralis with eccentric exercise

This study examined the alterations in sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+ sequestration function in homogenates during eccentric exercise and recovery and following additional eccentric exercise, and correlated these alterations with changes in force output. Eight healthy, untrained females, aged 20-25 years, cycled for a total of 60 min on an eccentric cycle ergometer (30 min at 66 ± 3% O2 peak and 30 min at 76 ± 3% O2 peak, determined during concentric exercise). Biopsies (extracted from the vastus lateralis) were taken before and after the exercise as well as on days 2, 6 and prior to and following identical exercise on day 14. Ca2+-uptake (nmol/min/mg protein) was unaffected (p > 0.05) following the first session of eccentric exercise; however, by day 2 a depression in uptake (p < 0.05) was observed which persisted throughout the remainder of the experiment. Maximal Ca2+-ATPase activity (nmol/min/mg protein) was elevated (p < 0.05) immediately following the first exercise session, remained elevated through day 2 and returned to pre-exercise levels by day 6 of recovery and increased again by day 14. No changes in either Ca2+-ATPase activity or Ca2+-uptake were observed with exercise on day 14. Both eccentric sessions, performed on days 0 and 14, resulted in similar depressions in force (p < 0.05) immediately following exercise. By day 2 force had recovered to pre-exercise levels. The results demonstrate that a prolonged alteration in SR Ca2+-uptake occurs following eccentric work that is unaccompanied by parallel changes in either SR Ca2+-ATPase activity or mechanical performance.